NCE USB Interface & Decoder Pro.

To help us with programming our locos, there's a fantastic programming utility called Decoder Pro available free from the Internet, also included is Panel Pro to automate your trains etc. You'll also need Java 11 loaded onto your computer. Once installed you'll need the appropriate Cable connecting your Laptop to your system. Click here for more  information. There's also a JMRIusers chat group on Groups.io, where you can post questions etc.

For NCE's PH PRO that has a Serial Port you'll need a USB to Serial Adaptor. For us Aussies Jaycar has a suitable Adaptor Part No: XC-4834.

Recently while trying to help an NCE User to get connected with JMRI & his Power Cab using the NCE USB Interface, I sent an abridged version of Dave Heap's notes below,  to help the modeller, so I thought I'd make it a Blog entry.

Unable to find my Manual for the Interface, click on the DCC Concepts copy below: https://www.dccconcepts.com/manual/nce-owners-manual-usb-interface/

For the Power Cab, you'll need the NCE USB Interface shown right. In the upper left of the photo are the 4 Links (all OFF), discussed below. 

Here are the best settings for JMRI and jumpers for Power Cab & the SB5.

Make sure you always unplug/re-plug both cables on the NCE USB, after changing jumpers.
It also explains how to read the version of your NCE USB (only the first digit counts, the last three report how your jumpers 2-4 are set and jumper 1 is ignored on all systems).

Power Cab Instructions
The correct settings for a Power Cab V1.65 or V1.28 (as shown when the Power Cab starts up) and an NCE USB V6 (or you are not sure of the USB version) are:

• All USB Jumpers off (or at least 2, 3 & 4. Jumper 1 is ignored).
• JMRI preferences are:

                        System manufacturer:     NCE
                        System connection:         NCE USB
                        Serial port:                       whatever is appropriate for your system
                        USB version:                  V6.x.x
                        System:                            Power Cab
            

                Additional Connection Settings checkbox     ON

                Baud rate:                                     9600.

The JMRI console log should then report V6.3.0. If it reports V7.3.0 and your Power Cab is V1.65, use the settings below instead.
If you don't get a version number or the system does not work, Use Help->System Console...->Copy to clipboard and paste into a post for us to see.

The correct settings for a Power Cab V1.65 or V1.65b and an NCE USB V7 are:

• All USB Jumpers on (or at least 2, 3 & 4. Jumper 1 is ignored).
• JMRI preferences are:
• System manufacturer: NCE
• System connection: NCE USB
• Serial port: <whatever is appropriate for your system>
• USB version: V7.x.x
• System: PowerCab
• Additional Connection Settings checkbox ON
• Baud rate: 19200.
• The JMRI console log should then report V7.3.7.

SB5 Instructions
============
The correct settings for an SB5 and an NCE USB V7 are:

• USB Jumper 4 on. All others off (or at least 2 & 3. Jumper 1 is ignored).
• JMRI preferences are:
• System manufacturer: NCE
• System connection: NCE USB
• Serial port: <whatever is appropriate for your system>

-- USB version: V7.x.x
-- System: SB5
-- Additional Connection Settings checkbox ON
--- Baud rate: 19200.

The JMRI console log should then report V7.3.1.

General Troubleshooting
==================

If the system does not work after this:

• If your SB5/Power Cab is V1.65 rather than V1.65B, you may have been affected by a firmware sue (triggered by a System Reset).
• Your NCE USB may be set to a bad cab address (V7 only).
• There is a potential hardware issue with the NCE USB/Power Cab combination.

            In either case, go through the following :

• Quit JMRI.
• Ensure neither LED on the NCE USB is stuck ON. If so, power cycle the USB by unplugging it from the cab bus cable.
• Ensure you have no other throttles connected.
• Restart JMRI and immediately go to Configure USB Interface under the NCE menu.
• Set the Cab ID to 3.
• Attempt a JMRI operation (use a throttle, Identify a decoder).
• The status line should stay green and it should work

If this does not work, do not fiddle with any other settings but instead:

• Observe whether the Cab Bus LED on the NCE USB is stuck on and report back.
• Use Help->System Console...->Copy to clipboard and paste into a post for us to see.

Further information on the USB Interface can be seen at the below pages:

The late Mark Gurries has a few pages

https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/dcc-welcome-page/nce-info/nce-usb-adapter/nce-v7-usb-adapter

Click here for Numerous YouTubes

Cow "moo" sounds for the Main North.

Nadja one of Ellie's Care Workers is from Switzerland. She has just returned from visiting her parents where her father has a model railway. At his insistence she purchased a Preiser 10404 - 3 Swiss Cows & 2 farm hands, to give to me saying I hope you can find a place for them on the layout. I replaced my 4 cows with the 3 Swiss cows on my Upper Bridge from Werris Ck to Tamworth.

I needed to add some "moos" for these cows. I know Ron has a Moo Module on his layout where I added some "occupancy" detection so the Cows were "mooing", as you passed them with the train. No train in front of the Cows - No moo sounds. I rang the MRRC but they didn't have the Moo Module.

Not to be without some "mooing", I thought I'd try a spare 10 second Record/Playback Module from Jaycar Part No XC-4605, that I used for my my Audible Announcement for EB1s, see my Blog Entry. The module has an on board Microphone making adding a sound really easy. I need some "moo" sounds. 

Googling "Cow moos", I found many videos. I used this one.https://tinyurl.com/mtpvk2x2

I connected 5.0 Volts & a Speaker to the Module. Turned up the Laptop's volume & with the above video playing suitable "moos", I pressed the Record Button for 10 seconds. Selecting the Repeat Switch then pressing the Play button, I now have "moos" for as long as the module has 5.0 volts of power. Now to automate the "moos".

I made a Power Supply providing 12.0 & 5.0 Volts that's connected to the local DCC Track Power Bus on a piece of Veroboard. 12.0 Volts for the Occupancy Detector as it uses a miniature 12.0 Volt Relay & 5.0 Volts for the Rec/Play Module. 

Using one of my spare Occupancy Detectors was used to sense the train. Train sensed, the Relay supplies 5.0 Volts to the Rec/Play Module.

 

The above 3 components are attached to a piece of Veroboard to make the installation under the layout easier. 

DCC Track Bus power to the R/H end.

Occupancy Detector with the Yellow Bus Feeder threaded through the Doughnut at the left.

Record/Play Module on the bottom. Speaker Connected to the Green Terminal Block. The VCC Pins are connected to the output of the Relay N/O Pin with the 5.0 Volts on the COM.

After testing the Moo Sounds on the Bench using a small speaker, the volume was too low. I tried a spare 52 mm Speaker & glued it to a plastic Pill Bottle, for a louder sound, attaching it to the rear of the Fascia of the Upper Bridge with the 3 Cows on the scenery. 

Problem with the above setup is, whenever I power up the layout, the cows moo. For the time being, I installed a slide switch in the power wire & some time later I'll work out why this happens. 

Shown below is a small video of the Glen Innes Mail crossing the Bridge with the Cows mooing.

I have 3 more of these Record/Playback Modules, I'll add a sheep sound at the Willow Tree Sheep Loading Pen & cow sound at the Gosford Cattle Loading Pen/Ramp.  
 

2025 Main North Layout Video & Track Plans.

With the upgrade of Gosford completed including adding the Overhead Wiring from Hawkesbury River  & sprucing up most of the Stations to Broadmeadow in late 2023 as described in my previous Blog entries, this section of the Main North is almost complete, my layout video needs upgrading, see:

Since my web site is no longer up there, details of the layout & the Track Plans are included below:

The layout is located in the downstairs part of the house, initially in one spare bedroom in 1990 but since the kids have left home, I have taken over the lot, in:

3.6 x 3.0 M Train Room previously a Bedroom, where the Main North started.

7.0 x 6.0 M Hobby Room previously a Double Car Garage, where floor 300 mm lower than in the Train Room.

3.0 x 2.0 M area adjacent to the Hobby Room previously under house storage.

6.0 x 4.5 M Crew Room previously a Rumpus room, adjacent to the Train Room entrance & stairs up to the main part of the house. Visitors to the Main North, access the Crew Room via the driveway, Shed & Crew Room side entrance, without disturbing the Boss.      

 

The Main North is a walk around layout on mainly two levels providing a long “run”, without having a Helix, utilizing 3 Peninsulas in the garage. 

Starting off  at Sydney Staging with the Lower Return Loop, 120 mms below Broadmeadow & slowly climbing to Werris Creek that's 410 mms above Broadmeadow, shown right.

Then onto West Tamworth, above Sulphide Junction then left to the Upper Return Loop, or to the right across the Duck Under, into Armidale Staging, above Newcastle Station.

 

There are many hills/grades on the real Main North. I was able to model 2 of the 3 “prototype” grades, I wanted to model – the 12 km, 1 in 40 climb from Murrurundi to Ardglen, where for Down Goods trains > 250 tons, required the use of Rear End Bankers. When selecting an era & location to model, it was this is "banking" operation that determined what I wanted to model. The second "grade" is the Fassifern Bank, south of Broadmeadow.

 

Sydney to Broadmeadow is dual main line & the Broadmeadow to Werris Ck is a single line. 

Broadmeadow to Werris Ck is signaled with Lower Quadrant Semaphores complete with Occupancy Detection for the 5 Blocks – Broadmeadow to Murrurundi, Murrurundi to Pangela, Pangela to Ardglen, Ardglen to Willow Tree & Willow Tree to Werris Ck, allowing for bi directional running without any "head ons", if the Operators obey the Semaphores. 

 

The overall length of the layout is 120 metres (400 feet), excluding the 2 Return Loops at Sydney & Tamworth, makes the Main North, a “Dog Bone” style of layout, providing continuous running, if desired & easy turning of trains.

For some June 2014 Main North photo's click below:

https://southcoastrail.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-main-north-railway.html#comment-form

 

 

Since my web site has gone but I still have the Articles, If anyone needs any of the web site Articles, I'm only too happy to send it, please contact me at mammann@optusnet.com.au